# Acton Vale, Quebec

Acton Vale is an industrial town in south central Quebec, Canada. It is the seat of the Acton Regional County Municipality and is in the Montérégie administrative region. Its population in the Canada 2021 Census was 7,605. The town covers an area of 90.96 km$^2$ (35 sq. mi.).
By road, Acton Vale is 100 km (60 mi.) from the province's largest city, Montreal, and 190 km (120 mi.) from the province's capital, Quebec City. It is also 100 km (60 mi.) from the border with the United States.

## History

While the Township of Acton was proclaimed in 1806, the area was opened up for settlement only in 1850 by the construction of the railroad. Incorporated in 1861, the town was named for Acton, a suburb of London, England. The name means "oak town." The town was once a centre for copper mining. Between 1860 and 1875, the Acton copper mine was one of the most important copper mines in the world, but the deposits were quickly depleted.
On January 26, 2000, the parish municipality of Saint-André-d'Acton was merged into the Town of Acton Vale.

## Communities

Beside Acton Vale is Lavoie, a community in the south of the municipality, accessible by Highway 139.

## Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Acton Vale had a population of 7,605 living in 3,479 of its 3,628 total private dwellings, a change of -0.7% from its 2016 population of 7,656. With a land area of 91.01 km$^2$ (35.14 sq mi), it had a population density of 83.6/km$^2$ (216.4/sq mi) in 2021.
Population by mother tongue :
| Group | 2021 Census | 2021 Census | 2016 Census | 2016 Census | 2011 Census | 2011 Census | 2006 Census | 2006 Census |
| Group | Population | % of total | Population | % of Total | Population | % of Total | Population | % of Total |
| French | 7,305 | 97.1 | 7,270 | 97.7 | 7,225 | 97.8 | 7,265 | 96.6 |
| English | 70 | 0.9 | 75 | 1.0 | 75 | 1.0 | 70 | 0.9 |
| English and French | 65 | 0.9 | 25 | 0.3 | 25 | 0.3 | 85 | 1.1 |
| All other | 85 | 1.1 | 75 | 1.0 | 65 | 0.9 | 100 | 1.4 |
| Total | 7,525 | 100.0 | 7,445 | 100.0 | 7,390 | 100.0 | 7,520 | 100.0 |

## Government

The mayor is Éric Charbonneau.

### List of former mayors

* Éric Charbonneau (2009 - )
* Juliette Dupuis (2005 - 2009)
* Maurice Coutu (2001-2005)
* Anatole Bergeron (1993-2001)
* Gaston Gigère (????-1993)
* Roger Labrèque (1974-1986)
* Henri Boisvert (1966-1974)
* J.Edmour Gagnon (1963-1966)
* Lucien Désautels (1962-1963)
* Roger Labrèque (1948-1962)
* J.W. Cantin (1942-1948)
* J. Antonio Leclerc (1940-1942)
* Dr Philippe Adam (1934-1940)
* Ernest Boisvert (1932-1933)
* Auray Fontaine (1928-1932)
* Ernest Boisvert (1926-1928)
* Auray Fontaine (1924-1926)
* Dr. Léon Gauthier (1922-1924)
* J.E. Marcile (1918-1922)
* Dr. F.H. Daigneault (1916-1918)
* Charles Viens (1915-1916)
* David Lemay (1914-1915)
* Dr. F.H. Daigneault (1905-1914)
* Pierre Guertin (1902-1905)
* Georges Deslandes (1901-1902)
* J.E. Marcile (1900-1901)
* Milton McDonald (1897-1900)
* Auguste Dalpé (1896-1897)
* Alfred Saint-Amour (1895-1896)
* Pierre Guertin (1893-1895)
* Alfred Saint-Amour (1891-1893)
* Charles Roscony (1881-1891)
* N.H Dubois (1880-1881)
* Charles Roscony (1872-1880)
* Jérémie Morrier (1870-1872)
* J.A. Cushing (1868-1870)
* Charles F. McCallum (1866-1868)
* Jérémie Morrier (1864-1866)
* A.H. Dubrule (1863-1864)
* J.A. Cushing (1861-1863)

## Media

La Pensée de Bagot is the local newspaper for Acton Vale and the region.

## Notable people

* Kevin Asselin, born 1985, professional ice hockey player